Sled.



Patented May 8; 191?.

0 J. TUBES.

SLED.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23. 1916.

WITNESSES mc mmms PEYERs m. PNO "11mm" WASHINGroN o c.

OSCAR JOHN TUBES, OF WINSLOW, MAINE.

SLED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 191?.

Application filed May 23, 1916. Serial N0. 99,295.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OSCAR JOHN Tones, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Winslow, in the county of Kennebec and State of Maine, have invented a new and Improved Sled, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to sleighs or sleds, and has particular reference to a juvenile structure or one adapted especially for children for coasting or sliding on any kind of smooth surfaces coated with ice or snow.

Among the objects of the invention is to simplify, and hence cheapen, this type of vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide foot-operated propelling devices of a simple and yet very strong and stable nature.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a construction including a single propelling wheel and means for automatically causing said wheel to accommodate itself to any irregularities in the surface over which the sleigh is operated.

A still further object of the invention is to improve the construction of sleighs or sleds with respect to means to prevent side movement or skidding.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the arrange ment and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact details of construction disclosed or suggested herein, still for the purpose of illustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the frame and propelling devices;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line 44 ofFig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a modification of the propelling wheel showing a structure having two series of digging points or prongs.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I show a structure including a frame 10, in the front portion of journaled a steering post 11 and having secured upon its rear portion a seat 12. A bracket 13 is secured beneath the front end of the frame, and swiveled thereto in any which is vell known manner is a front bob 14 including a pair of runners 15. A pair of chains 16 are connected to the opposite sides of the hob and to the lower end of the steering post 11 for usual steering control of the machine through the hand wheel 17. The several parts thus far described are more or less conventional and are referred to only to give a general understanding of the new mechanism.

The rear runners 18 are similar to each other and to the front runners 15, each of which includes a bracket comprising two similar members 19. These members are shown fully in Figs. 1 and 4, and each of them includes a diagonal brace having a foot 20 riveted or otherwise secured to the runner. At the upper end of the diagonal brace is formed a vertical plate 21 lying in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the machine and thence the member is bent into a vertical plane at 22 at a right angle to the plane of the plates 21, and thence the member is bent laterally and upwardly, forming an ear 3 having a transverse hole therethrough for the hanger bar 24. This hanger bar is straight and horizontal for the front bob. For the rear bob, the hanger 24 is upwardly bowed or arched and extends in this form across the space between the runners, but is rigidly secured at 25 to the side members of the frame. The lower side portions of the hanger bar 24 are projected through the lower ends of V-brackets 26, see Fig. 3. These brackets 26 make stiff strong'and yet comparatively light supporting connections for the hanger bars 24, and constitute therewith the connection between the frame and the runner. The cars 23 for each runner bracket 19 provide for free oscillation of the runner around the horizontal axis of the hanger bar. The extent of this oscillation, however, may be limited by a flexible connection 27 or its equivalent. members are made of plate or bar metal, and are of standard cross sectional dimension throughout. By this construction I provide ample bracing stren th for the runners in both directions, rendering it practically impossible for the machine to collapse in practice.

I will now describe the propelling mechanism, adapting the machine immediately for use over all possible kinds or conditions of slippery surfaces. I employ by preference a single propelling or digger wheel 28 mount- The bracket brace 34 ed upon a double cranked axle 29. Between the two rear runners, the ends of the axle are j ournaled coaxially of each other in the rear ends of a pair of radius arms 30, and adjacent each end of the axle is a cleat 31 secured on the inside of the adjacent radius arm and providing a spaced bearing for the axle. The two radius arms are formed preferably from the same piece of metal, the middle portion of which constitutes a cross brace 32, and just at the rear of said cross brace 32 the front ends of the radius arms are apertured for the accommodation of a removable center rod 33 secured to the frame 10. At 34 I provide an upwardly projecting U-shaped member constituting a rear brace for the radius arms, and between the braces 32 and 34: is a third transverse brace 35. The rear brace 34: is projected upwardly to accommodate the digger wheel, but otherwise the radius arms and the braces constitute in effect a substantially rectangular frame of a stiff strong nature, but of comparatively cheap material, the whole frame being swung to oscillate up and down around the transverse center rod 33.

At the rear end of the frame are secured a pair of downwardly projecting V-brackets 36, similar in construction to the bracket 26 above described, and in the point or V of each of these brackets is anchored a spring 37. At 38 I show a control lever, the front end of which extends forwardly beneath the seat and has take-up connection of any suitable nature at 39 with the intermediate brace 35. The rear portion of this control lever 38 is bifurcated, the two parts 40 thereof bearing upon the upper surface of the rear and with their rear ends connected at 40 to the several springs 37. The springs 37 are designed to exert downward tension upon the lever 38, and through said lever and its two branches 40, the force of the springs acts downwardly upon the bracket or brace 3A and thereby the downward force upon the axle and digger wheel is controlled. By lowering the front end of the lever 38 tending to cause the arms 40 thereof to rock around the brace 34L as a fulcrum, the tension of'the springs 37 is increased, thereby causing the springs to act more forcibly to lower the digger wheel, or if the front end of the lever 38 is lifted, the tension will be proportionately relieved at the springs with the corresponding tendency to elevate the digger wheel or reduce its digging action. When the lever is once adjusted, however, for any particular kind .or condition of trackway, the springs 37 act automatically to control the action. of the wheel, either for digging purposes or to allow it to rise in the event of a bump or other irregularity being encountered. The digger wheel operates as indicated in Fig. 2 between the two arms 40 of the lever 38, and it acts prevents lateral deflection or skidding of the rear bob. As indicated in Fig. 5, the wheel 28 may be provided with aplurality of series of points to increase the digging action with only a comparatively slight increase of force required to drive it.

At 41 I show structed of bar metal bent in U-form and journaled upon the center rod 33 similar to the manner of mounting the radius arms.

Each pedal 42 is pivotedupon a pivot 43 in the lower open end of the yoke 41, and to this pivot bolt is connected a connecting rod 44 leading back to one of thecranks of the crank shaft or axle. With the radius arms, wheel and axle, and pedal yokes all mounted upon the same center rod, the relation between the pedals and the other parts of the propelling mechanism always remains the same, irrespective of the oscillation of the wheel up or down.

The front bob is provided with an antivskidding device of peculiar construction, the

same comprising a wheel a l having a toothed periphery carried in a vertical plane at one side of either or both of the front runners 15. The means for supporting this wheel a4. includes a forked yoke 45 having at its outer side or end, a horizontal transverse spindle 46 on which the wheel is -j ournaled. The yoke is upwardly U-shaped and on its inner side or leg, it is bifurcated forming two parallel vertical bars 47, each of which is guided in a pair of :guides i8, and in these guides the bracket 45 is adapted to move up or down so as to accommodate itself to uneven surfaces of the roadway. The upward movement is limited by collars 49 secured to the lower ends of said bars 47. The spring 50 is connected at its upper end at 51 to the top of the bracket, and at its lower end at 52 to the lower edge of the plate 53', through which the device as a whole is connected to the runner bracket 19. This spring tends to hold the wheel down into contact.

with the roadway. This spring, however, is preferably materially lighter than those 37 acting upon the digger wheel. The antiskidding wheel 44. hence offers very slight resistance to the normal forward or rearward movement of the vehicle, but because of its serrated periphery, serves as a positive means to prevent side movement or skidding of the sleigh. Since the wheel also is journaled in or close to the vertical and transverse axes of the front bob, it offers practically no resistance to the steering action.

By applying power to this machine it can be converted into a motor driven sleigh, and

to accomplish this result, the rod 33 may be journaled as a power shaft and from it any suitable connections may be made with the crank shaft 29. Also by substituting wheels the pedal yokes each con- I for the runners, the device may readily be converted into a foot propelled juvenile automobile. The radius arms 30 and the other parts of the frame formed thereby, together with the digger wheel, can readily be removed leaving, however, the same pedal system, although the form of the crank shaft could be varied iftraction wheels instead of a digger wheel were used. The radius arm frame with the digger wheel may easily be suspended or fastened up so that the digger wheel will not interfere with free movement of the sleigh in coasting. It is to be noted also that by stopping the action of the pedals the digger wheel constitutes an effective brake. In the practice of the invention, the digger wheel is free to go up and down, working over the surface of the roadway either above or below the surface of the runners.

As shown at 84:, the lower ends of the U-shaped brace Set are each twisted so as to abut squarely against the shoulder 31 formed in the adjacent brace 31. This prevents any possibility of the brace 3a tilting rearwardly in practice. At the upper surface of the brace 34: are provided lugs se which project upwardly on the outside of the arms L0. These lugs are connected by a spring 34 or some other suitable means to confine the arms 40 resiliently in connection with the brace and to limit the lateral movement of the several parts with respect to each other.

I claim:

1. In a sled, the combination of a frame, a center rod arranged transversely in said frame, a pair of radius arms journaled at their front ends on said center rod, a plurality of transverse braces connected to said arms and forming therewith a practically rigid rectangular frame, a digger wheel, a cranked axle secured to the digger wheel and j ournaled in the rear ends of said radius arms, pedal devices journaled upon said center rod, connecting rods between the pedal devices and the axle, and spring means acting between the frame and certain of said cross braces to variably control the digging action of the wheel.

2. In a sled, the combination of a main frame, a center rod arranged transversely in the frame, propelling devices mounted on said center rod for vertical oscillation within the rear portion of the frame, a lever acting upon the rear portion of the propelling devices as a fulcrum, one end of the lever being adjustably connected to another portion of the propelling devices, and spring means acting upon the rear end of the frame and the other end of the lever serving to automatically hold the propelling mechanism down with a force proportionate to the position of adjustment of the first mentioned end of the lever.

3. The herein described sled comprising in combination, a rigid frame, a center rod arranged in the frame, a pair of springs connected adjacent the rear corners of the frame, propelling devices mounted for oscillation upon said center rod and including a U-shaped brace extending across the rear portion thereof and another brace extending transversely of the propelling devices, a lever bearing upon the upper face of said brace and having spaced rear ends connected to said springs, and means connecting the front end of the lever to the latter mentioned brace and acting upon the front end of the lever to variably adjust the automatic action of the springs to hold the propelling devices in contact with the roadway according to varying conditions thereof.

4. In a sled, the combination of a frame, front and rear bobs connected thereto, propelling means suspended from the frame, means to turn the front bob around a vertical axis, and an anti-skidding wheel for the front bob journaled on a transverse spindle whose axis lies in the same vertical plane as the axis around which the bob is turned.

5. In a sled, the combination of a frame, a plurality of runners and connections be tween the frame and the runners, each connection comprising a hanger rod having a transverse spindle, and a bracket, said bracket comprising a pair of similar bar metal members having their lower ends constituting diagonal braces connected to the runners, their upper ends constituting a pair of ears spaced laterally in parallel vertical planes through which said spindle projects, the intermediate portions of the members being bent in vertical planes perpendicular to the plane of the ears and connected rigidly together.

6. In a sled, the combination of a main frame, propelling devices therefor, a front bob, means to steer the front bob from the frame, a bracket secured to the front bob, said bracket including vertically alined guides, a yoke mounted in said guides and adapted to move up and down therein, an anti-skidding wheel journaled upon said yoke in a vertical plane parallel to the front bob, and a spring connected at one end to said bracket and at the other end to the yoke and serving to hold the wheel down in contact with the roadway.

OSCAR JOHN TUBES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the ACommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

